Malaysia police raid complex linked to ex-PM Najib

Malaysian security forces have raided an apartment complex in Kuala Lumpur linked to former prime minister Najib Razak to search for confidential state documents that may have been illegally delivered to the site.

Dozens of police officers and plainclothes law-enforcement officers carried out the swoop at Pavilion Residences on Saturday after receiving a report that government vehicles with the logo of the department of the prime minister and cabinet on Thursday delivered 50 boxes of Birkin designer handbags — apparently for Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor — to the apartment complex, where Najib’s relatives reside.

It was not clear what was in the boxes. The Birkin designer handbags would cost $200,000 each.

But officers taking part in the raid said they were primarily looking for documents that could be vital for investigations into Najib’s administration.

“We are looking for government documents that may have been illegally taken,” a senior police officer who requested anonymity said. “The government is worried they could be sensitive and important [documents], and could be taken out of the country.”

Najib, who is accused of misappropriating billions of dollars through his pet project state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), had earlier said he was going abroad for a week, but was barred from leaving the country.

An alliance of political parties led by Mahathir Mohamad scored a stunning election victory on Wednesday, ousting Najib.